Shield Slide Not Locking Back After Last Round.

[ConcealedKalifornia]

Hey guys, just having a small issue with my Shield 9mm that I'm looking for some advice on.

The slide is not locking back after firing the last round. This happens with both of my mags (only have two right now) the 7rd and the 8rd, and with a wide variety of ammo spanning from freedom munitions remans 115, all the way to my Federal HST 147g +Ps.

It doesn't lock back about 80% of the time and I can't seem to figure out a pattern as to when it does or doesn't lock back.

I've done the usual thorough cleaning and changing lube. (my usual is frog lube) and it didn't help.

What should I be looking for? The slide will lock back fine if I manually engage the lock, or when I pull the slide back with an empty mag. I have really big hands so it may be me actually holding the lock down accidentally, but I figured I'd see if the Calguns gurus could give me any other ideas.

Thanks guys!

[Mossy Man]

My money is on you thumbing the slide stop

[kjv146]

Most likely it's your thumb or some part of your hand holding it down. Have someone else shoot it. Or, load one round, and shoot it in a way that you know for sure you won't be pushing on the slide stop.

[rsrocket1]

Put one or two rounds in the mag and grip the gun with your left hand put your right hand over it so your thumb rests on your left hand and shoot the last rounds. This prevents your thumb from getting anywhere near the slide lock. It's not comfortable, but you will certainly notice if your thumb has nothing to do with it.

[ConcealedKalifornia]

I am leaning towards what y'all have said above. I have really big hands, and I have a pretty "aggressive" grip.

I will experiment and report back later.

Thanks!

[thegamettt]

try the "sig" grip

[ConcealedKalifornia]

try the "sig" grip

Sig grip?

[Chapped Hide]

Sig grip?

Right thumb over left thumb 1st knuckle.

[Creampuff]

Right thumb over left thumb 1st knuckle.

Or become left handed like the rest of us superhuman left handed people

We will rule your world one day...

[19K]

Get someone else to fire it

[NYT]

i would tend to agree on the slide stop being activated but this is only happening on the last round correct? if his hands were hitting the slide lock, it should happen irregularly and not only on the last round.

op, how many rounds do you have through your shield? my guess would be under 500?

is the slide difficult to rack all the way back?

what kind of ammo are you using? 115gr?

my guess would be a combination of weak loads and stiff spring. the frog lube isnt doing you any favors as well. i would switch to a better lube.

[ConcealedKalifornia]

If I was pulling DOWN on the slidelock though, it wouldn't be irregular. It just wouldn't catch on the last round like people above are saying.

Im close to 4k rounds through it. Like my first post said, It happens on a wide variety of ammo. 115 low power target crap, to 147 grain +p defensive ammo. Slide isn't that difficult to rack.

Also have tried different lube no change. This is leading me to believe I am just thumbing the stop, or something mechanical is acting up. I am leaning towards user error though

i would tend to agree on the slide stop being activated but this is only happening on the last round correct? if his hands were hitting the slide lock, it should happen irregularly and not only on the last round.

op, how many rounds do you have through your shield? my guess would be under 500?

is the slide difficult to rack all the way back?

what kind of ammo are you using? 115gr?

my guess would be a combination of weak loads and stiff spring. the frog lube isnt doing you any favors as well. i would switch to a better lube.

[ojisan]

I don't have a Shield (maybe soon) but generically this is what I would look at:
First, remove slide, put stop back in the frame.
Slowly insert a empty mag and see where the shelf or ledge on the follower is pushing up on the innermost tab on the stop.
If the shelf / ledge is too low to push the stop up, then the followers need to rise higher in the mag.
Look for burrs or molding flash on the follower that may be keeping it from rising all the way to the top.
A little careful filing of the follower using a fine jeweler's file may fix this.

If the follower goes up high enough, but does not contact the stop tab, then the stop tab may need to be longer (wider etc)
In this case, you will need a new stop....call S&W and explain.

[FIREBALL_BRIAN]

have another person shoot it and see what happens.
My buddies is the same way. Its either limp wrist or thumb. I can run it just fine and 3 other people tried it. He just cant get it to lock back. I worked with him on holding technique and it seems to be working for him

[NYT]

If I was pulling DOWN on the slidelock though, it wouldn't be irregular. It just wouldn't catch on the last round like people above are saying.

Im close to 4k rounds through it. Like my first post said, It happens on a wide variety of ammo. 115 low power target crap, to 147 grain +p defensive ammo. Slide isn't that difficult to rack.

Also have tried different lube no change. This is leading me to believe I am just thumbing the stop, or something mechanical is acting up. I am leaning towards user error though

wow, 4k rounds through your shield and it has had this problem the whole way through? have you tried to rebuild your magazines with a new spring?